Fraud Alert: Impersonation Scams
We want to make you aware of an increase in impersonation scams targeting bank clients across the country.
In these scams, criminals may pose as a bank employee, government agency, or fraud department representative through phone calls, emails, or text messages. Their goal is to trick individuals into providing personal information, login credentials, or one-time security codes, which can then be used to access accounts or commit fraud.
According to guidance from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), scammers often create messages that appear urgent or legitimate in order to pressure individuals into responding quickly. Please remember these important safety tips:
- Keep your information secure: Your bank will never ask for your online banking password, PIN, or security codes by phone, email, or text. Partners Bank of California will never request this information from you.
- Think before you click: Do not click on links or open attachments from unexpected messages claiming to be from your bank.
- Don’t fall for urgency: Be cautious of messages that create urgency, such as warnings that your account has been locked or compromised.
- Verify with your bank: If you receive a suspicious call, email, or text, do not respond. Instead, contact your bank directly using a trusted phone number or website.
For additional information regarding fraud and security, visit Security and Fraud Prevention on pbofca.com. If you have any questions about fraud prevention or need assistance with online banking or any of our products and services, please contact your client advisor or email us at onlinebanking@pbofca.com.
